20 Players Desperate to Seal a Transfer This Summer

The summer transfer window is in full swing, and just as most clubs are looking to pull off the most profitable moves, many players are also hoping for a change of scenery.

Whether a player is unhappy at his current club or just deserves to play more somewhere else, there are many high-profile targets that could leave this summer and that is what we are here to discuss.

Not everyone can be as lucky as Aston Villa, who saw Christian Benteke withdraw his transfer request and pen a new deal with the club according to FIFA.com. Yes, for many clubs there is little hope of changing the minds of some players.

Continue reading to find out the top 20 players who are desperate for a move this summer. And don’t forget to let us know who else should be on the list.

Keisuke Honda

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We begin our list with Japan international Keisuke Honda, who currently competes with CSKA Moscow, but that may change very soon.

In late June, Stefan Coerts of Goal.com reported that Honda was keen on a move this summer as the midfielder desired to play for a bigger club. And with AC Milan heavily interested, all signs pointed to Italy.

Honda was quoted in the report as saying to the Japan Times, "I don't know where I'll be taking the next step yet but I know I've got a chance to play for a big club. If I go to a big club, I'll become an infinitely better player.”

However, days later Goal.com reported that CSKA Moscow was willing to part with Honda but that Milan would have to submit a fair bid for the Japanese star—something that has not yet happened.

From his statements, it seems rather clear that Keisuke Honda wants to move to a bigger club, and AC Milan appears to be his dream destination. But will the Japan star get his wish?

Raul Meireles

Current Fenerbahce midfielder Raul Meireles is also looking for a way out and may have his eyes set on a possible return to England.

Colin Young of the Daily Mail reports that the Portuguese international is “unsettled” at Fenerbahce and is looking for a way out with both Sunderland and Fulham interested in signing the 30-year-old.

The move to Fenerbahce never really made sense for Meireles, and it appears as though he is regretting the decision after only one year. The Turkish league can be hard to adapt to, and Meireles has never faced anything like it before.

Meireles spent six seasons at Porto before playing two seasons in England. He then made the switch from Chelsea to Fenerbahce, which was clearly an all-new path entirely.

Esteban Granero

From the youth academy of Real Madrid to now being relegated in England, Esteban Granero is a rather unlucky fellow. But no one can blame him if he makes a quick exit from QPR.

Though Granero never quite made it at Real Madrid, the Spanish midfielder is still far too talented to play for a relegated side.

Pete O’Rourke of Sky Sports has revealed that Swansea has showed heavy interest in the 26-year-old, with manager Michael Laudrup having worked with Granero in the past during his two seasons with Getafe.

The player’s agent, Carlo Cutropia, was quoted as saying “The two clubs are talking about a transfer, it’s true.” With that being said it is likely that he could get a move away from QPR.

At this point you have to feel for Granero while also hoping he finds a way to remain in the top flight. It is always hard to watch talented footballers competing at lower levels, and I hope that is not the case with the former Real Madrid man.

Luiz Gustavo

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Could Luiz Gustavo really be on his way out of Bayern Munich only months after winning the Champions League? It would be sad if that were the case.

The Mirror’s Matt Law recently reported that Arsenal are preparing to bid for the midfielder and that Gustavo could even be interested in making the switch with the coming season likely defining his position with Brazil ahead of the World Cup.

Law also stated that “German sources claim that Bayern are willing to listen to offers for Gustavo after completing the signing of Thiago Alcantara.”

It is hard to imagine that Gustavo truly wants to leave Bayern Munich. Most players who compete at some of the best clubs on the planet would not let playing time dictate their future.

That is, of course, unless your name is Thiago Alcantara.

But it is true that Luiz Gustavo will need to play as much as possible to ensure his spot on Brazil’s World Cup roster. And with Thiago, Javi Martinez and others ahead of him at the German club, it is very unlikely that he will play significant minutes.

With interest being shown by several top-flight clubs, it is hard to imagine that Remy will remain at QPR. No doubt the club will do everything to keep him, but like Esteban Granero, relegation does not suit Remy.

Leandro Damiao

Time is slowly starting to run out for Brazilian forward Leandro Damiao. The Internacional striker is now 23 years old and needs to make a move to Europe before it becomes too late.

Honestly, Damiao does not particularly need to move away from Brazil. But if the striker wants to improve as a player and compete with Fred for the Brazilian national team roster spot, he will likely need to compete at a much larger club.

Normally, top Brazilian talents tend to make a switch to Europe at a young age to get the most out of their career. And though Damiao is still young at 23, waiting much longer will likely hurt his chances.

The Daily Mail has reported that Napoli manager Rafa Benitez is highly interested in bringing Damiao to Italy. And with the recent departure of Edinson Cavani, the Brazilian could feature heavily.

Again, if Damiao truly wants to be the front man for Brazil heading into the World Cup, he must be desperate to make the move overseas.

Morgan De Sanctis

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Morgan De Sanctis has guarded the net for Napoli for four years now, but it is very clear that the Italian keeper is ready to leave the club.

Sky Sports Italia recently revealed that Napoli manager Rafa Benitez had reached a deal to bring Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina to the Italian club on loan this season. Although the move is a bit odd, it has De Sanctis ready to make an exit.

It seems as though the arrival of Reina does not sit well with the club’s current keeper, and it is expected that he could depart the club very soon. To some, competition invokes growth, but to others it gives the feeling of being unwanted.

Much like Damiao, Bernard has reached the point in his career that requires a move to a much bigger club to continue improving as a player. The Atletico Mineiro forward is on the cusp of earning a place on the Brazil roster, but that won’t happen without a move.

With very big clubs interested in signing the 20-year-old it is time to officially leave Brazil. Bernard has to be ready for the next stage in his career, and the list of possible destinations continues to lengthen.

Edin Dzeko

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Edin Dzeko has never quite lived up to his €32 million transfer fee that saw the striker move from Wolfsburg to Manchester City. And now it could be time to leave.

Carlos Tevez recently left the picture and is no longer competing with Dzeko for minutes on the pitch. But just as soon as one rival exited, another one entered when Goal.com reported that Sevilla man Alvaro Negredo was set to join Manchester City.

Now it is very likely that the Bosnian will once again feature as a backup striker, which is something that I believe he is not that happy about.

ESPN recently reported that Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that Dzeko will be very important despite interest from Napoli. But in all honestly, one has to wonder just how much Dzeko really believes that.

It is unlikely that Edin Dzeko will actually leave Manchester City, but it is no secret that the striker would much rather be a first-choice option.

Marouane Fellaini

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With his former manager now at Manchester United, it is easy to assume that Marouane Fellaini wants to make the switch to Old Trafford.

The Guardian has reported that Manchester United manager David Moyes wants to bring Everton midfielder Fellaini to the Red Devils. Even more, it is likely that Fellaini wants the move to happen as well.

Not only is Fellaini very familiar with Moyes, but a move to a club like Manchester United is difficult for anyone to turn down.

Sky Sports has reported that current Everton manager Roberto Martinez sees Fellaini as a very important player for the club. But that may not be enough to keep the Belgian from wanting to reunite with Moyes.

Manchester United has already missed out on Thiago and is unlikely to talk Barcelona into selling Cesc Fabregas. Marouane Fellaini may be the club’s top target now, and if so, you can bet that the midfielder is desperate for a bid to come in.

Adel Taarabt

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Could QPR really have three players on this list? Sadly, yes.

Adel Taarabt may actually want out of the relegated club more than anyone else, in fact. Earlier this month, Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail reported that the 24-year-old was sent home after a training ground bust-up after arriving late.

A few days later, Sky Sports reported that QPR was ready to send out the talented midfielder on loan.

It is clear that Taarabt is not happy at QPR. If the training ground issue proves anything, it is that the 24-year-old is desperate to leave.

Taarabt will likely not want to be tied to the club in a loan deal, so expect much more from this saga over the coming weeks. Training ground bust-ups happen every now and then during the summer, but they always stem from other issues.

Hulk

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Hulk smash!

Not really, but Hulk is very unhappy with Zenit St. Petersburg.

The Mirror reported in December that Hulk was growing very upset with how things were going at the Russian club, who broke the bank to sign the Brazilian forward. Hulk had these words to say in that report.

"If the situation with the coach does not resolve itself I may leave the club in the January transfer window."

Well, Hulk did not leave in January, but fast-forward to today, and he is still not happy.

In March, Metro reported that Hulk was growing increasingly agitated with life at Zenit and was officially looking for a move away. When asked about his future, the Brazilian responded, “My future? I like the Premier League.”

Nothing has changed from then until now. Hulk is still unhappy in Russia and desperately wants a club to show the cash to get him out of his unhappy situation.

Kevin Gameiro

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Kevin Gameiro is desperate for a move away from French club PSG, and it is easy to understand why. The striker rarely featured last season, and his playing time will suffer even more with the arrival of Edinson Cavani.

Sky Sports recently reported on an interview between Gameiro and L’Equipe in which the French striker made it clear that he is looking to leave PSG. His statement is as follows:

There is talk about Sevilla. I have to decide whether it would be better for my career to go somewhere else and not be satisfied with my substitute position in Paris. I want to play football and score goals. In one year there will be a World Cup, and that is a target for me. I have opportunities almost everywhere, but I do have a preference for La Liga.

Lucky for Gameiro it seems as though Sevilla is also interested in signing the striker according to a report from the Express. It seems almost impossible for Gameiro to remain in France at this point.

Fabio Coentrao

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One player that is very open about his desire to leave his current club is Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao.

The Metro reported an interview between Coentrao and various Portuguese press back in May in which the defender made his situation very clear. Coentrao did not tiptoe around the truth, his quotes are as follows:

From the first day I do not think I was wanted here. Today it seems that everyone wants me to leave the club. I do not know what I have done wrong. We must find a solution that is good for both the club and myself, so that no one will lose out. When I leave, I do not close the door to anyone.

There is no debating how Coentrao feels at Real Madrid. Not only does he desperately want to leave Spain, but I don’t see any way he does not get his wish.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Only one year after joining French side PSG, it seems as though Zlatan Ibrahimovic already wants a new change of scenery.

Spanish daily paper Marca recently reported that Ibrahimovic was keen on a move to Real Madrid in order to team up with former manager Carlo Ancelotti. But the report also claims that his desire to join the club was rejected.

Ibrahimovic may be upset that Ancelotti did not stay at PSG. Or the striker might not want to share the spotlight with Cavani. Either way, Ibrahimovic wants out of France.

The report from Marca claimed that Ibrahimovic was also hoping for a move back to Juventus, but was again rejected.

Gonzalo Higuain

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Gonzalo Higuain’s name has been thrown around the transfer rumor mill all summer, and there is a reason for that. The striker has had enough of Real Madrid.

ESPN reported on a story from AS in which Higuain’s father made it clear that his son was ready to leave Real Madrid. His father stated, “He wants to go to a team who recognize him and appreciate him. We want a team in Europe.”

Since then, it has seemed all but concluded that Higuain was going to leave Real Madrid. But as of now, he is still a Madrid player.

But it looks as though Higuain will get his exit after all. Football-Italia has recently reported a story from Corriere dello Sport which claimed that Napoli has reached a deal with Real Madrid over the striker for a price of €35 million.

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez does not like life in England, that is for sure. And because of the negative press that the Liverpool striker attracts, you can’t really blame him for wanting to leave.

Earlier this summer, Suarez revealed to a local television station during an interview reported by the Telegraph that he was ready to leave Liverpool. A few months later, the player’s agent continues to state that Suarez does not want to stay in England any longer.

From negative press to not playing in the Champions League, Luis Suarez is in a really bad place. Anyone in his position would be very unhappy, and it is safe to say that Suarez is more than desperate for a move.

The Uruguayan is adamant that his future in England is over and he would like to move at some point.

In the second half of the season, I gave everything for Dortmund, as always. I played and scored, knowing that I would be allowed to leave.I was certain I would be given the green light for a transfer. Now all of the sudden everything is different. Unfortunately, I'm forced to stay. I'm astonished at how they're treating me. I have to accept that I have to stay in Dortmund.

Wayne Rooney

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Alright, everyone saw this one coming.

Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that Wayne Rooney requested to leave Manchester United, the rumors have not come close to slowing down. The striker is unhappy at Old Trafford and doesn’t show signs of regaining his desire to wear the United shirt.

The Mirror has reported that Chelsea believes that “it is only a matter of time before Wayne Rooney is their player.” That might not be entirely true, but it does show just how set on leaving Rooney is.

Wayne Rooney has become the poster child of players everywhere who want out of their current clubs. And despite all the wonderful things that happened this summer, Rooney will likely be the face of this transfer window.

Kaka

When Kaka joined Real Madrid in 2009 no one could have imagined what would become of the Brazilian star. Several injuries later and Kaka is still fighting just to be relevant at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Last year, The Guardian quoted former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho as saying “If Kaka decides to stay then perfect. If he goes, that is perfect too but we aren’t going to give him away for free.”

These words made it clear that Kaka was not an important member of the Real Madrid squad and his future at the club began to look bleak.

In January, NESN reported a story from Italian source Gazzetta dello Sport which claimed that Kaka had met with AC Milan executive Adriano Galliani. The report quoted Kaka as saying “It’s not a pleasant situation for me or Real Madrid. I am willing to find a solution that is good for me and for Real.”

At this point it is hard to argue with the fact that Kaka wanted a way out of Real Madrid.